Poll: Job you love, or job that pays high?

[Jumplion]

For me, personally, I am planning to pursue a dual-major in both Computer Science and Arts, specifically with animation and game design/programming. I plan to get into the game industry and I want to learn as much as I can to improve my chances and develope my skills for other areas.

I don't know how feasable it is for you to pursue a dual major, but, for me personally, I see college as a way to improve and develope skills in a wide variety of areas. I want to learn as much in both the technology and artistic side and it seems you do to to an extent.

By all means, if you have the dedication and/or time to do it (and the money, of course), a dual-major may be a good choice. That way you are learning many things from the art side of what you want to do, while also developing skills that not only help you have a more stable future but may also help you in the art side of things as well, making you an overall better candidate for what you want.

This is incredibly off topic but I don't give a fuck.

My god Jumplion it's been ages since I've seen ya and ya still falling down dem stairs. How freaking far do they go and why haven't your posts dwindled into gibberish?

It helps build cardio, oddly enough. I should change the icon, though, it hasn't been March Mayhem 2010 for at least 3 years. Gives me an excuse to crack open that animation program.

I've been online plenty, just don't really have the urge to post anything since it all felt pointless, really, topics just sort of repeated themselves after a while. Occasionally I post though I've resorted to lurking for a good long while. That and general laziness.

It's nice to know someone recognizes me, helps stroke my ego

 

[lettucethesallad]

I had your dilemma, picked the middle ground and became an architect. Now I get to be creative, solve problems and not starve, all at once. It turned out pretty sweet, I'm happy about it.

 

[The Comfy Chair]

A job you can get by with, one that isn't necessarily the 'best thing ever' but pays a lot more is the better option. That said, if you haven't got the passion for engineering, you're going to find it very hard later on, same as things like Physics and Maths. Doing a Physics degree at a good uni is (quoted from a friend) 'being punched in the soul' at times You need to have the resolve to keep doing some bits of it, because it's not easy!

However, if you enjoy engineering, go for it. You can always do what you truly love in your spare time and also have the money to do so. I, for example, got a Physics degree. I like coding and writing, so i got a job in coding and write in my spare time, the latter may eventually earn money, who knows, but i'm earning decent money with the former right now. The problem is that everything in life is about money. Sure, there are some things which aren't as dependent, but everything boils down to how much money you have in the end.

In this world money buys you freedom. The freedom to do what you want, at least for a little bit. Is that depressing? a little bit, but if that wasn't the case, why would anyone really work!

 

[gazumped]

Like you, I had the option of studying for a higher paid career or going to art school. I chose art school. And I think you're right that it's a kind of useless degree even now when I'm almost at the end of it, and I'm not even sure I'm going to have a career in art and design because too many people want to do it and many of them are better than me. But it was a fun four or five years and I learned a lot about what I love and I got to practice doing what I love and I made a lot of contacts in the industry.

I wish I could speak to you from four or five years in the future, because I couldn't say for certain if I've made the right choice or if my life is going to go to crap because I haven't chosen the more financially secure career path. HOWEVER, I will be happy so long as I can earn enough to keep a roof over my head and decent food in my belly, and if that means stocking shelves at a supermarket while only having the very odd illustration commission here and there over weekends, I think I'll be doing alright.

You make it sound like an Animation degree is suicide towards one's life.

I am going for that degree.

I know I won't be some billionare, but I at least know they're being asked for.

Dang, that wasn't the message I was trying to convey, I meant that I don't regret taking art, just that I might (although I'm not even sure I would) have done things differently if I'd had my time again.

Animation is probably one of the better arts degrees to take, though. Especially if you're studying 3D animation, big demand for that it seems. And you learn, yehknow, PRACTICAL things.
I specialised in illustration, really not much call for those and our degree basically consisted of 'here's some basic design theory, now go make some cool looking shit'. I mean, they also looked at the cool looking shit and would give us advice on how to make it look cooler, but we were never really taught much.

 

[Kaymish]

i have a job i hate.
i get paid good really good.
i take heaps of time off.
to indulge my hobbies doing things i like. that costs money.
its a trade off.
i do something i hate so i do not have to worry about money when i do the things i love

 

[zxvcasdfqwerzxcv]

Job I love (which I have). Doesn't pay well, though may do so in the future.
Life is too short, and money too fleeting, to focus purely on finance. Work is the thing you DO, it defines you. We often describe ourselves by our career. If you hate it, you will resent it, and that resentment will transfer into the rest of your life; to your hobbies, your friends and family.
If every day of work brings me joy, then I'm richer than anyone.

 

[Genericjim101]

TBH I love my job for the satisfaction of doing something productive and it only pays me £7.10 an hour. I was always told in college that no-one goes into catering for the money, but because they are passionate about their work.. also anti social and best kept in the kitchen away from people.

 

[Vuliev]

Uh, why not both?

Seriously, I just got a job that starts soon after I graduate, and it involves doing something I love (electrical power systems design) while also paying very very well.

 

[Hagi]

I first scrap all the jobs that don't pay enough for me to live on.

From that list I select the job I love most, as a job.

I don't really believe in turning your hobbies into your job, unless you're truly talented in that hobby. But I do think it's entirely possible to have a job that you genuinely enjoy, as a job and not as a hobby. In fact I'd say that counts for the job I currently have.

 

[ghostrider409895]

I actually know some professional artists, and they say that you can succeed, but you have to really put time and effort into it.
I know one guy who got into computer software early in its development, and he gets business working to help develop art software. This same guy also takes on projects for businesses. He makes a decent amount - he is not wealthy, but he is not poor - but he does not slack off what so ever.
I also know off an artist that chose to make art for his own sake, but this guy has a clear purpose and theme in mind when he creates his paintings. This guy paints only by natural light, and once that light is used up he goes home and does concept sketches and plans for the next day's painting. His work does sell for a large amount of money in Europe or to private collectors in the United States, but he devotes most of his waking hours to his art.
Personally, I think that I would rather go with a job that pays more, and use that money in order to fund your art. If art is something you really want to do for fun, that becomes your enjoyment. I really like to create artwork, and I have fun doing oil paintings, but I also have a passion for engineering and I would rather take in a larger amount of money and then have time to make oil paintings at my leisure. I want painting and drawing to be something I want to do than something I have to do.
Really, you have to go with your gut, but I think it is really a matter of personal drive, if you do not mind doing it more out of passion than seeking reward for a few years, and if you do not mind having to make art as a career than strictly out of want. Remember, you can always go back to school if you try something out and you do not like it. You can always go back and learn more mathematics and engineering, or learn more technical skills in terms of art.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

I don't think engineers will be in high demand very long. Almost everyone I know is getting an engineering degree, and it seems like there's just going to be a massive flood of these poor, soon-to-be-out-of-work bastards very quick. Everywhere you look, someone is saying to some high-schooler, "Engineers are in high demand! You should become one, instead doing what you WANT to do!"
There are other jobs in demand, people; don't all flock to the same damn thing, just because your friends are going to be in your classes, and it might pay well someday.

lol you can say this about any high paying job, you know how many people START in engineering, but don't actually make it through? there are classes i've taken where on average 50% or more of students fail out of and switch majors entirely out of engineering, hell in my graduating class for my degree, i'm going to have 4 MAYBE 5 people graduate with me, and it's the only college that offers it in the state let alone maybe the midwest. (in one of my classes i have 5 other students in it with me, and it's a required senior/graduate level course.)

if you said that about the business college, then i'd agree, that place holds at least 1/3rd of the student population at my college, so many dumbasses who fail out of everything else try and do something in business.

 

[cathou]

the job i love. when you are younger money is a key factor, then you get a point where it's not anymore.

Right now i earn 21$ per hour as an IT tech. i could make more money elsewhere. i know it, i've had offers sometimes. but i work for the government, so there's not much chance they will close anytime soon, i only work 35 hours per week, every overtime is paid at 1.5X rate, i dont do nights or week-ends, got insurance, retirement plan, 10 paid sick days and 4 weeks of vacation (the norm here is 2), etc. i work closer to my home so i have more time for my family.

all this worth much more than the extra money i could get elsewhere.